Description: The cooling, alluringly sweet character of vanilla beans perfectly complements Pu-erh tea's cocoa-like sweetness and earthy richness. Premium grades of V. planifolia vanilla beans are blended with enticingly aromatic cassia cinnamon from Vietnam and hints of cooling organic peppermint for a truly decadent taste experience. Rishi Tea artisans blend Pu-erh Vanilla in micro-batches for a consistently rich, luxuriant flavor.
Tasting Notes: Decadent with sweet Saigon Cinnamon, creamy vanilla bean and notes of chocolate
Ingredients: Organic and Fair Trade Certified™ pu-erh tea, organic peppermint, organic cinnamon, organic vanilla bean, organic licorice root.
Brewing Instructions: 1 tbsp 100°C/212°F 5-6 minutes (5 for 1st infusion, 6 for second)
Additional Info: Pu-erh tea has an ancient past originating in Yunnan, China millennia ago. This rare, rich tasting tea is treasured as a healthful, energizing tonic. Its deep, smooth flavor is created through an artisanal pile fermentation process that transforms sun-dried green tea into ripened, full-bodied Pu-erh tea.
(From Rishi Tea: Vanilla Pu-erh)
Steph's Thoughts:
The Hubby and I went out to Salisbury House for breakfast this morning. Well, okay, it was noon. Anyway, I looked at the menu, and they have an entire page devoted to tea - with pictures and everything. I mean, it's not the widest selection of tea, but they brew LOOSE LEAF tea!!! And it all looked very good. I wanted ALL THE TEAS! But I had to pick one, so this is the one I picked.
When I poured the tea into my cup, I could smell the cinnamon. It smelled like The Good Stuff (the kind I get from Ten Thousand Villages, not the cheap stuff), which made me VERY happy. Tea companies that use the GOOD cinnamon rather than cheap cinnamon are A1 in my books!
The infusion was a lovely rich chocolate colour, which is partially from the pu-erh leaves.
The first sip was a bit of a surprise. Having not seen the ingredients prior to sipping, I was surprised by the mint flavour. It tasted very much like the mint chocolate rooibos from DAVIDsTEA. There was a mint tea on the menu, so I did have to double check with the server that she'd brought me the right tea. She had, in fact, brought me the right tea.
It's got a nice refreshing taste, with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. I don't think I'd label this VANILLA pu-erh, though, because of the mint. It might be better with a different name???
The second steep (more hot water added to the leaves) produced a darker colour. I felt like it would be a good coffee alternative, as I could feel my energy increasing while drinking. It's a very smooth tea! (I love pu-erhs for exactly this reason.)
The second cup had a slightly funky aftertaste, which could be the vanilla bean. I don't actually know, though, so don't take my word for it! It just tasted a little funny.
This is a tea that doesn't pair well with honey. It does not need sweetener at all, as is very sweet on its own. It could possibly be very refreshing, though slightly heavy, iced tea. However, the Hubby figures wouldn't ice well, as would be bitter. After several moments of consideration, I'm inclined to agree. It would sit too heavy.
It's a great "sit and contemplate the world" tea, or a "curl up on the couch and read a book" tea. I would definitely purchase this for the winter months when I need a heavier tea.
Verdict: Pretty decent for taking a chance on a new loose leaf tea. I want to try more from this company!
No comments:
Post a Comment